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another two or three days。 That leaves the initiative with you； Denis。 The question is； can you bring Nigel to full potential alone？〃
Arilan； still exhausted by the monumental effort it had taken to assemble the Council a few hours before； leaned his dark head against the back of his chair and closed his eyes。
〃I don't know；〃 he whispered。 〃I'm not sure it's wise； in any case。 What's wrong with waiting for Morgan and Duncan？〃
〃Don't be naive；〃 Kyri said。 〃This is our chance to break the hold that Morgan has had on the last two Haldane kings。 If we can't control him； and you won't allow us to eliminate him permanently； then pushing him out of the facilitation is at least a reasonable alternative。〃
〃Must it really e to that？〃 Arilan said。
Barrett bowed his hairless head； shaking it sadly。
〃We know how you feel about them； Denis；〃 he said。 〃But Kyri is right。 Having you trigger Nigel's Haldane potential wouldn't exactly give us any more control over him than we had over Kelson； God rest his soul。〃 He crossed himself halfheartedly…a motion copied by most of the others； with varying degrees of impatience。 〃But at least we would know more about the process； so that when the time es to bring Conall or one of his brothers along； we'll be in a position of greater influence。〃
〃I don't know whether I can do it alone；〃 Arilan repeated。 〃I'm sure things were set； even in me； that were supposed to trigger at the appropriate time； but Nigel's in no state right now； even if I were。〃
〃But he was prepared to bee king； if anything had happened to Kelson in battle last summer；〃 Sofiana said neutrally。
Arilan nodded。 〃Yes； but that was last summer。 Who would have thought Kelson would meet his end on his knight's quest； falling off a goddamn embankment？ After all he's survived； to go that way…〃
〃Then； is Nigel despondent？〃 Vivienne asked impatiently。
〃No； but he's very deeply grieving and stunned。 I wouldn't know how to begin to approach him about such a thing。〃
Laran pursed his lips thoughtfully。 〃Perhaps some medical intervention might be appropriate；〃 he ventured。 〃We have medications that can ease the process。 You used some of them on Nigel before。 I suggest that such assistance is definitely indicated now； if you're to try to trigger the reaction alone。 You shouldn't have to worry about physical or even psychological resistance while you're juggling more esoteric balances。〃
Choking back a sob； Arilan folded his arms on the table before him and laid his forehead against his sleeve。
〃I can't think about it right now； Laran。 Why can't I make you understand that？ All of you。〃
His shoulders shook as he surrendered to his own grief and shock； for the first time since passing his terrible news on to Duncan； hours before。 Only Sofiana； realizing that he was weeping silently； had the presence of mind to clear the chamber and leave him in peace for a while； grieving with him as she led the others downstairs to the ritual chamber known as the keeill； there to guide them in a silent meditation for the repose of the dead king's soul。
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Chasten thy son while there is hope； and let not thy soul spare for his crying。
Proverbs 19：18
Dhugal fought down an urge to gag as he made himself gnaw on a charred chunk of rank； stringy horsemeat； washing down each bite with water because he knew he had to eat or starve。
He had never been partial to horse； even properly prepared…though； when times were lean； he had sometimes eaten it in the borders； of necessity…and he hated over…cooked meat。 This was neither properly prepared nor rare the way he liked it…and starting to go bad besides。 Not bad enough to make him sick； but bad enough that he hardly cared that this was the last of it that was at all edible。 At least partially burning it did help to disguise the flavor。
Unfortunately； the bloated carcass had already been half…ripe when he found it； perhaps a day earlier…though day and night had no meaning in this cavern of perpetual darkness。 His nose had led him to it。 It had been wedged in a tangle of flood wrack； held fast by the savage current not far downstream of where he still kept hopeful vigil beside the unconscious Kelson。 It had been Jowan's horse。 He had watched horse and rider go over the edge； what seemed like half a lifetime ago。 He wondered whether young Jowan had met a kinder fate。
Their hapless guide had not。 Dhugal had found his body； too； not far from the drowned horse； skull fatally breached in at least two places； brain matter protruding； and both arms and both legs shattered beyond mending； even if death had not been likely instantaneous from the head injuries。
There was nothing Dhugal could do for the monk besides offer a brief prayer for his soul； which he did； but there was one final service the monk might do for him…or rather； for Kelson。 The man's clerical habit under the still soggy cloak was woven of a fine wool； warm and light。 It wanted a good washing； for Brother Gelric's body also had begun to go the way of the dead horse； but when rinsed out and dried before the fire； the loose…fitting garment would be far more fortable for Kelson than the soiled clothing in which he now had been lying for however long he had been unconscious。 Dhugal was doing the best he could to keep his patient clean and dry and at least getting water down him on a regular basis； but unless Kelson stirred soon； Dhugal held little hope for his survival。
The horse also had proven useful； beyond the few pieces of tainted meat that Dhugal managed to salvage before dumping the decaying carcass back into the river； for its saddlebags somehow had managed not to be separated from the animal's saddle or even burst open。 Most of what Dhugal found in the one side was of little value to anyone but the presumably drowned Jowan； but he did find flint and steel； an extra belt； and a few spare leather straps； all potentially useful。 And the other side； wonder of wonders； had yielded a hard winter apple； much bruised； and a soggy piece of journey bread； starting to mold。
The latter Dhugal had fed meticulously to Kelson； picking off the mold as best he could and easing small； semi…liquid amounts of the bread past Kelson's lips； washing it down with sips of water which he made Kelson swallow。 He tried to pulverize bits of the apple and feed them to Kelson； too； but finally had to give that up and eat the apple himself； for he dared not risk having Kelson choke while unconscious。
He had just finished bathing Kelson； as he had done for his foster father during the old man's last years； and was gently easing the dead monk's habit over Kelson's head and down around his waist； when the king gave a moan； stronger than he had 。yet managed； and opened his eyes。
〃What're you doing？〃 he managed to croak； his voice thready and weak from disuse。
〃Kelson！ Thank God； you're awake！〃
〃M'。head hurts；〃 Kelson whispered。 〃I think I'm going to be sick。〃
〃Oh； no you don't；〃 Dhugal murmured； easing Kelson onto his side； one hand on his forehead and one on his throat； easily forcing his mind past Kelson's almost nonexistent shields to push down the nausea that was threatening to expel what little food Dhugal had gotten down him。 〃I can't have